#Japan #Gifu #Kokopelli #Big Advance #Gifu Shinkin

Gifu Shinkin Bank Partners with Kokopelli to Reach 1 Billion Yen in Personal Loan Balances

In a remarkable achievement, Gifu Shinkin Bank, located in Gifu City, has surpassed 1 billion yen in personal loan balances by effectively utilizing the comprehensive business support platform, Big Advance, in collaboration with Kokopelli. This innovative approach primarily aimed at enhancing workplace environments, has successfully expanded the bank's non-face-to-face personal loan framework.

Kokopelli, led by its CEO, Shigeru Kondo, along with the leadership at Gifu Shinkin Bank, recognized the need for a modern approach to financial services amidst the changing work landscape. They utilized Big Advance's employee welfare service, FUKURI, and safety confirmation features to create a new engagement point with employees of client companies, which is becoming essential in today's financial milieu.

The Challenge of Workplace Engagement in Banking

Historically, financial institutions have faced increasing difficulties in connecting with employees of partner companies. The shift towards remote and flexible work arrangements has reduced the opportunities for traditional workplace banking engagements. Gifu Shinkin Bank identified this gap and turned to Big Advance as a strategic tool. By framing FUKURI and safety confirmation as employee welfare and workplace improvement services, they created a pathway for deeper connections with employees.

By establishing these new points of contact, Gifu Shinkin Bank generated significant opportunities for personal loans, including auto loans and educational loans. This initiative also led to improved member retention rates for businesses involved in the Big Advance program.

Developing New Financial Products Together

To launch specialized auto loans for Big Advance members, Gifu Shinkin Bank's product development team collaborated closely with the Big Advance division. The process of creating new financial products in the banking sector requires careful consideration of various factors such as product features and interest rates. The bank leveraged data on Big Advance members’ usage patterns to ensure the new offerings would meet their needs effectively.

This collaboration across departments highlighted the importance of cross-functional teamwork and managerial buy-in throughout the product development process.

Insights from Industry Leaders

Masahiro Takagi, Head of Solution Sales at Gifu Shinkin Bank, remarked, “Many perceive Big Advance merely as a business matching service. However, we see it as vital for supporting our client companies in creating workplaces where employees feel secure and at their best. Our initiatives, such as endorsing health-conscious corporate practices and SDGs declarations, enhance employee welfare through the FUKURI and safety functionalities of Big Advance, marking a significant milestone in employee engagement and corporate welfare.”

Shigeru Kondo, CEO of Kokopelli, expressed, “In small and medium-sized enterprises, talent acquisition and retention is an urgent issue. FUKURI is already well-received for enhancing employee welfare. By allowing employees to engage with FUKURI, we naturally foster closer connections, which directly boosts the sales of workplace loan products. We hope that more financial institutions can adopt similar practices.”

Unlocking Potential through Big Advance

The ongoing collaboration has opened a new frontier for workplace banking. By using FUKURI as a springboard for engagement, Gifu Shinkin Bank has successfully linked employees with essential services while promoting safety through disaster training initiatives.

The strategy’s success indicates the potential for employee accounts to evolve beyond auto loans to include educational loans and a range of other financial services, creating a comprehensive financial ecosystem.

This case exemplifies for client companies seeking to enhance their PR rep—an easy approach to workplace improvement, motivating the creation of employee accounts and opening doors to the new “B to B to C” (Financial Institutions to Companies to Employees) model.

About Kokopelli

Name: Kokopelli Inc.
Location: 11th Floor, Kioicho Building, 3-12 Kioicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
CEO: Shigeru Kondo
Established: June 2007
Business Scope: Business platform services
Website: Kokopelli
Key Services: Management support service for SMEs - Big Advance; Global business matching platform - BIG ADVANCE GLOBAL.